Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

437. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the review of building regulations; if he will further clarify the wider consultation his Department undertook with stakeholders in the industry regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35612/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1384 and 1432 of 22 September 2015 which set out the position in relation to the review of S.I. No. 9 of 2014.

It is worth noting that this review was the fourth review process on this matter when one considers that:

- The changes to the building control framework underpinned by S.I. No. 9 of 2014 were originally devised by a High Level Working Group of senior Department and Local Authority representatives who received submissions and held workshops with industry and local authority stakeholders;

- The outcome of the High Level Working Group’s deliberations were put to public consultation in the form of proposed Draft Building Control (Amendment) Regulations in 2012. 504 comprehensive submissions were received from industry stakeholders, industry practitioners and members of the public;

- Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (S.I. No. 80 of 2013) were signed into law in March 2013. Following concerns about the insurability of persons signing the proposed statutory certificates, detailed engagement followed with industry and local authority stakeholders culminating in the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 9 of 2014)and the Code of Practice for Inspecting and Certifying Buildings and Works:

- The recent review of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 followed a commitment given at the time of its introduction to review the instrument following its first twelve months of operation.

On 2 April 2014, following the announcement of the review, my Department published a suite of documents to inform the review which can still be accessed at the following weblink

The documents included a spreadsheet template for submissions with a view to encouraging respondents to focus on documenting what action they thought might resolve their particular concerns.

171 submissions were received from private individuals, industry stakeholders and local authorities during the public consultation process. All submissions received were reviewed by my Department and a Report on the Consultation Processwas published on my Department’s website on 31 July 2015 and can be accessed by clicking on the following weblink

In addition to the above I hosted an Open Policy Seminar on Building Control in the Custom House on 15 April 2015. A report on this seminar is included in the overall Report on the Consultation Process already referred to.

Overall, the level of consultation and engagement on this matter far exceeds the arrangements that typically apply when statutory regulations are being developed.